US6122482A — Satellite broadcast receiving and distribution sy…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 291 words

In a satellite receiving and distribution system that receives signals from at least one satellite and distributes said received signals over a cable to at least one remotely located satellite receiver having a frequency range and producing a control signal, said system including at least one satellite dish that receives, from the at least one satellite, a first block of polarized signals comprising, a first set of plural channels and a second block of polarized signals comprising a second set of plural channels, said system further comprising: head-in equipment coupled to said satellite dish, said head-in equipment applying both said first polarized signal block and said second polarized signal block to said cable in different segments of the frequency spectrum such that said cable simultaneously carries both said first and second polarized signal blocks to said satellite receiver, said head-in equipment including a first block converter that frequency converts at least one of said first and second polarized signal blocks for application to said cable; a second block converter coupled to said cable and located in proximity to said satellite receiver, said second block converter further frequency converting said frequency-converted polarized signal block to a frequency band within the receiving frequency range of said satellite receiver, wherein the output of the second block converter is a block of plural channels; and an electrically operated switch located with said satellite receiver and coupled between said second block converter and said satellite receiver, said switch operating to select between said first signal block and said second signal block for application to the satellite receiver in response to said control signal produced by said satellite receiver to enable said satellite receiver to receive any of the plural channels in the first and second sets.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 291 words

In a satellite receiving and distribution system that receives signals from at least one satellite and distributes said received signals over a cable to at least one remotely located satellite receiver having a frequency range and producing a control signal, said system including at least one satellite dish that receives, from the at least one satellite, a first block of polarized signals comprising, a first set of plural channels and a second block of polarized signals comprising a second set of plural channels, said system further comprising: head-in equipment coupled to said satellite dish, said head-in equipment applying both said first polarized signal block and said second polarized signal block to said cable in different segments of the frequency spectrum such that said cable simultaneously carries both said first and second polarized signal blocks to said satellite receiver, said head-in equipment including a first block converter that frequency converts at least one of said first and second polarized signal blocks for application to said cable; a second block converter coupled to said cable and located in proximity to said satellite receiver, said second block converter further frequency converting said frequency-converted polarized signal block to a frequency band within the receiving frequency range of said satellite receiver, wherein the output of the second block converter is a block of plural channels; and an electrically operated switch located with said satellite receiver and coupled between said second block converter and said satellite receiver, said switch operating to select between said first signal block and said second signal block for application to the satellite receiver in response to said control signal produced by said satellite receiver to enable said satellite receiver to receive any of the plural channels in the first and second sets.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

A satellite system as in claim 1 wherein said cable comprises a single optical fiber, and first block converter provides for two different frequencies and polarities to be transmitted simultaneously via said single optical fiber.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

A satellite system as in claim 2 wherein said second block converter frequency converts said first block of polarized signals or said second block of polarized signals to their original received frequency as applied to the first block converter.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

A satellite system as in claim 1 wherein said satellite receiver is coupled to a television receiver.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

A satellite system as in claim 1 wherein a power source is coupled to said first block converter and said power source powers said first block converter.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

A satellite system as in claim 1 wherein said second block converter provides for said block of signals converted by said first block converter to be converted separately and independently to said satellite receiver.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

A satellite system as in claim 1 wherein said switch comprises a polarity switch that selectively alternately couples said first signal block of a first polarity or said second signal block of a second polarity different from said first polarity to said satellite receiver.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 54 words

A satellite system as in claim 1 wherein said first block converter includes a first converting circuit for converting said first block of signals to a desired first frequency band and a second converting circuit for converting said second block of signals to a desired second frequency band different from said first frequency band.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

A satellite system as in claim 1 wherein said cable comprises an optical fiber coupled to said first block converter via a transmitter, said transmitter enabling said signals to be transmitted via said optical fiber, wherein said transmitter is located at a first end of said optical fiber and said system further includes a receiver located at a second end of said optical fiber.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 46 words

A satellite system as in claim 1 wherein said first block converter includes a first converting circuit for converting said first block of signals to a first frequency band and a second converting circuit for converting said second block of signals to a second frequency band.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as in claim 1 wherein said first block converter includes a tilt and gain unit.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

A system as in claim 1 wherein said first block converter includes a first converting circuit for converting said first block of signals to a first frequency band without further frequency converting said second block of signals.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

A system as in claim 1 wherein said second block converter performs a reverse of the frequency conversion performed by said first block converter.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

A system as in claim 1 wherein at least one amplifier is located between said first block converter and said second block converter.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

A system as in claim 1 further including a low noise block converter disposed between said satellite dish and said head-in equipment.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system as in claim 15 wherein said low noise block converter converts said first signal block and said second signal block before further conversion by said first block converter.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system as in claim 16 wherein said head-in equipment passes one of said first and second signal blocks to said cable without any further frequency conversion.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system as in claim 1 wherein said head-in equipment passes one of said first and second signal blocks to said cable without any further frequency conversion.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as in claim 1 wherein said second block converter down-converts to a lower frequency range.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

A system as in claim 1 wherein said first block converter up-converts to a higher frequency.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 231 words

A satellite distribution system for use with a satellite dish coupled to at least one satellite receiver via a single coaxial cable, said satellite receiver producing a control signal, said system comprising: equipment coupled to said satellite dish, said equipment including a first frequency block converter that frequency converts at least one of a first block of polarization signals comprising a first set of plural channels and a second block of polarization signals comprising a second set of plural channels, said equipment applying both said first and second polarization signal blocks simultaneously to said single coaxial cable for enabling the two different polarization blocks to be transmitted simultaneously via said single coaxial cable; and a second frequency block converter coupled between said single coaxial cable and said satellite receiver, said second frequency block converter converting said one of said first polarization signal block and said second polarization signal block and applying said further frequency converted block of signals to said satellite receiver, wherein the output of the second block converter is a block of plural channels and wherein said system further includes an electrically operated switch coupled to said second frequency block converter and co-located with said satellite receiver, said switch operating to select between said first signal block and said second signal block for application to said satellite receiver in response to said control signal produced by said satellite receiver.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 231 words

A satellite distribution system for use with a satellite dish coupled to at least one satellite receiver via a single coaxial cable, said satellite receiver producing a control signal, said system comprising: equipment coupled to said satellite dish, said equipment including a first frequency block converter that frequency converts at least one of a first block of polarization signals comprising a first set of plural channels and a second block of polarization signals comprising a second set of plural channels, said equipment applying both said first and second polarization signal blocks simultaneously to said single coaxial cable for enabling the two different polarization blocks to be transmitted simultaneously via said single coaxial cable; and a second frequency block converter coupled between said single coaxial cable and said satellite receiver, said second frequency block converter converting said one of said first polarization signal block and said second polarization signal block and applying said further frequency converted block of signals to said satellite receiver, wherein the output of the second block converter is a block of plural channels and wherein said system further includes an electrically operated switch coupled to said second frequency block converter and co-located with said satellite receiver, said switch operating to select between said first signal block and said second signal block for application to said satellite receiver in response to said control signal produced by said satellite receiver.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 54 words

A satellite system as in claim 21 wherein said first block converter includes a first converting circuit for converting said first block of signals to a first frequency band and a second converting circuit for converting said second block of signals to a second frequency band that does not overlap said first frequency band.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as in claim 21 wherein said first block converter includes a tilt and gain unit.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 37 words

A system as in claim 21 wherein said first block converter includes a first converting circuit for converting said first block of signals to a first frequency band without further frequency converting said second block of signals.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as in claim 21 wherein said second frequency block converter down-converts to a lower frequency range.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as in claim 21 wherein said first block converter up-converts to a higher frequency range.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 248 words

In a satellite distribution system that distributes received satellite signals to satellite receiver equipment via a cable, said satellite receiver equipment producing a control signal, said system including head end equipment including a satellite antenna that receives, from at least one satellite, a first block of plural channels of a first polarization and a second block of plural channels of a second polarization different from said first polarization, said satellite distribution system further comprising: components of said head end equipment that communicate said first and second channel blocks of different polarizations over said cable simultaneously, said head end equipment components including a first block converter that converts at least one of said first and second channel blocks from a first frequency band to a second frequency band and applies said frequency-converted channel block to said cable so that said first and second polarization channel blocks are frequency stacked onto the same cable; and components of said receiver equipment including a second block converter that further frequency converts said frequency-converted channel block so it can be decoded by said satellite equipment, wherein the output of the second block converter is a block of plural channels, said components of said receiver equipment further including an electrically operated polarity switch coupled to at least said second block converter, said polarity switch operating to select between said first channel block and said second channel block for application to said satellite receiver in response to said control signal produced by said satellite receiver.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 248 words

In a satellite distribution system that distributes received satellite signals to satellite receiver equipment via a cable, said satellite receiver equipment producing a control signal, said system including head end equipment including a satellite antenna that receives, from at least one satellite, a first block of plural channels of a first polarization and a second block of plural channels of a second polarization different from said first polarization, said satellite distribution system further comprising: components of said head end equipment that communicate said first and second channel blocks of different polarizations over said cable simultaneously, said head end equipment components including a first block converter that converts at least one of said first and second channel blocks from a first frequency band to a second frequency band and applies said frequency-converted channel block to said cable so that said first and second polarization channel blocks are frequency stacked onto the same cable; and components of said receiver equipment including a second block converter that further frequency converts said frequency-converted channel block so it can be decoded by said satellite equipment, wherein the output of the second block converter is a block of plural channels, said components of said receiver equipment further including an electrically operated polarity switch coupled to at least said second block converter, said polarity switch operating to select between said first channel block and said second channel block for application to said satellite receiver in response to said control signal produced by said satellite receiver.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

A satellite receiving and distribution system as in claim 27 wherein said second block converter reconverts said frequency converted signal block back to said first frequency band.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 17 words

A satellite receiving and distribution system as in claim 27 wherein said cable comprises a coaxial cable.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 17 words

A satellite receiving and distribution system as in claim 27 wherein said cable comprises an optical fiber.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 43 words

A satellite receiving and distribution system as in claim 27 wherein said system further comprises multiple satellite receivers each having a second frequency converter associated therewith, and said cable distributes said first and second channel blocks to each of said multiple satellite receivers.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

A satellite receiving and distribution system as in claim 27 wherein said head end equipment further includes a low-noise block converter coupled between said satellite receiving antenna and said first block converter.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 26 words

A satellite receiving and distribution system as in claim 27 wherein said first block converter includes an up-converter and said second block converter includes a down-converter.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 29 words

A satellite receiving and distribution system as in claim 27 wherein said first and second block converters each operate to frequency convert both said first and second channel blocks.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 14 words

A system as in clam 27 wherein said components of said receiver equipment down-convert.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 14 words

A system as in clam 27 wherein said components of said receiver equipment down-convert.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 12 words

A system as in claim 27 wherein said first block converter up-converts.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of distributing received satellite signals via a distribution cable to at least one subscriber's satellite receiver, said satellite receiver having a frequency range and being coupled to a second end of said distribution cable, said distribution cable also having a first end, said method comprising: receiving, via a satellite dish, a first block of plural channels of a first polarization and a second block of plural channels of a second polarization different from said first polarization; frequency converting at least said first channel block to a frequency band that is at least partially outside of the satellite receiver frequency range; simultaneously applying said second channel block and said frequency-converted first channel block to the first end of said distribution cable; at the second end of said cable, further frequency converting said first channel block to provide a block of plural channels within the frequency range of said satellite receiver; and switching, under control of said satellite receiver with an electrically operated switch located at the second end of said cable, between said first channel block and said second channel block for application to said satellite receiver.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of distributing received satellite signals via a distribution cable to at least one subscriber's satellite receiver, said satellite receiver having a frequency range and being coupled to a second end of said distribution cable, said distribution cable also having a first end, said method comprising: receiving, via a satellite dish, a first block of plural channels of a first polarization and a second block of plural channels of a second polarization different from said first polarization; frequency converting at least said first channel block to a frequency band that is at least partially outside of the satellite receiver frequency range; simultaneously applying said second channel block and said frequency-converted first channel block to the first end of said distribution cable; at the second end of said cable, further frequency converting said first channel block to provide a block of plural channels within the frequency range of said satellite receiver; and switching, under control of said satellite receiver with an electrically operated switch located at the second end of said cable, between said first channel block and said second channel block for application to said satellite receiver.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method as in claim 37 wherein said further frequency converting step includes down-converting said first channel block to a lower frequency range.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method as in claim 37 wherein said step of frequency converting at least said first frequency block comprises up-converting said first frequency block to a higher frequency for application to said cable.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-09-19	2004-03-20	2004-09-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-09-19	2008-03-20	2008-09-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-09-19	2012-03-20	2012-09-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Satellite broadcast receiving and distribution system

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